Coal is one of the most important sources of energy in India, playing a vital role in the country’s industrial growth. In simple words, coal mining refers to the extraction of coal deposits from both the Earth’s surface and underground.
Coal has been crucial in fueling the Industrial Revolution and continues to hold significant importance today. In this blog post, we will provide a List of Major Coal Mines in India, highlighting key facts and details about coal mining in the country.
History of Coal Mining in India
India’s coal mining history dates back to 1774, when coal mining began in the Raniganj Coalfield during the era of the East India Company.
Over time, the mining industry evolved, and with the advent of technology, open-pit mining gradually replaced underground mining by the late 20th century as the primary method for coal extraction.
Today, coal mining in India is a highly mechanized and productive process, utilizing both surface and underground mining techniques.
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Types of Coalfields in India
India’s coal reserves are categorized into two main types:
- Gondwana Coalfields – These are approximately 250 million years old and account for a majority of India’s coal reserves.
- Tertiary Coalfields – These are between 15 to 60 million years old and are relatively newer compared to Gondwana coalfields.
List of State-wise Major Coal Mines in India
| Coal Mine | States |
|---|---|
| • Jharia, Dhanbad • Bokaro • Jayanti • Godda • Giridih (Karbhari Coal Field) • Ramgarh • Karanpura • Daltonganj | Jharkhand |
| • Raniganj Coalfield • Dalingkot (Kalimpong) • Birbhum • Chinakuri | West Bengal |
| • Korba • Bishrampur • Sonhat • Jhilmil • Hasdo • Arand | Chhattisgarh |
| • Jharsuguda • Himgiri • Rampur • Talcher | Odisha |
| • Singareni • Kothagudem • Kantapalli | Telangana/ Andhra Pradesh |
| • Neyveli | Tamil Nadu |
| • Kamptee(Nagpur) • Wun field • Wardha • Walarpur • Ghughus • Warora | Maharashtra |
| • Ledo • Makum • Najira • Janji • Jaipur | Assam |
| • Darrangiri (Garo hills) • Cherrapunji • Liotryngew • Maolong • Langrin coalfields (Khasi & Jaintia Hills) | Meghalaya |
| • Singrauli • Sohagpur • Johila • Umaria • Satpura coalfield | Madhya Pradesh |
India’s Role in Global Coal Production
India is the second-largest coal producer and consumer in the world, contributing significantly to global coal production.
Most of its coal is used for electricity generation, fulfilling around 55% of the country’s energy needs.
While the majority of production comes from state-owned companies like Coal India Limited, India also imports coal to meet its demands and to access higher-quality coal for specific industrial purposes.
Despite facing challenges such as modernization needs and environmental concerns, coal remains a vital part of India’s energy landscape.
Some Major Coal Mines Facts That You Need To Know
- Talcher ranks second in terms of coal reserves, following Raniganj, with an estimated 24,374 million tonnes of coal.
- The Godavari Valley is home to the largest coal reserves in the country.
- Singrauli is the largest coalfield in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
- The Giridih (Karbhari) Coalfield is famous for producing the finest coking coal in India, which is essential for metallurgical processes.
- Assam’s coal has low ash content and high coking quality, with a significant sulfur content, making it suitable for metallurgical applications.
- Dhanbad, located in Jharkhand, is one of the oldest and richest coalfields in India, renowned for its vast reserves of metallurgical coal, especially coking coal.
- Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts are significant coal-producing areas in the country.
- Kothagudem and Singareni are the key coal mining areas in the Godavari Valley.
- The coal in Talcher is primarily used in thermal power plants, ideal for steam and gas production.
How are Coal Mines Formed?
Coal mines are formed over millions of years through a complex process involving organic matter, heat, and pressure. Here’s a simplified explanation of how coal mines come into existence:
- Formation of Peat: Millions of years ago, dense forests existed in swampy areas. When trees, plants, and other vegetation died, they fell into the swamp and accumulated to form a thick layer of organic material called peat.
- Burial and Compression: Over time, layers of sediment such as mud, sand, and silt accumulated on top of the peat. This burial process subjected the peat to increased pressure and heat.
- Transformation into Coal: The intense heat and pressure caused the peat to undergo chemical and physical changes. Water and other volatile substances were expelled, and the carbon content increased, forming different types of coal (lignite, bituminous, and anthracite) depending on the degree of transformation.
- Formation of Coal Seams: As the transformation continued, distinct layers or seams of coal formed between the layers of sedimentary rock.
- Mining: After millions of years of geological processes, the coal seams were buried deep underground or near the surface. Human activities, such as surface mining (opencast mining) or underground mining (deep mining), are used to extract the coal from these seams.
Key types of coal mining:
- Surface Mining: Involves removing the overlying soil and rock (overburden) to access coal seams near the surface.
- Underground Mining: Involves creating tunnels or shafts to reach and extract coal buried deep underground.
FAQs
West Bengal was the first state to produce coal in India, starting with the Raniganj coal mine.
The Chinakuri Colliery in the Raniganj Coalfield is India’s deepest coal mine, at 613 meters deep.Â
The Raniganj coal mine, located in West Bengal, is the oldest coal mine in India, opened in 1774.
The Gevra coal mine in Chhattisgarh is considered Asia’s largest coal mine.
The Jharia coalfield in Jharkhand is the largest coal field in India.
Methane gas is the primary cause of explosions in coal mines.
Most of the coal mines in India produce bituminous coal, which is a type of soft coal.
The Singareni coal mines are located in Telangana, primarily in the Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
